Internal-combustion engine.



P. W. NOBLE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1913.

2 SEEETSr-SHEET l.

P. WJNOBLE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 19 13.

Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

4 Unitar an sa aries canon rnncv wnnnnnivomn or PUNIEIAC, micirieniv.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTIONENGINE.

cense.

of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a 'full,-clear, concisca and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a I part of this specification.

My invention relates to internal-combustion engines and is of particular service in connection with four cycle internal combustion engines, though the invention is not *to' be limitedto the denomination of the engine cycle.

The invention particularly relates to those engines employing piston cylinders in which the engine pistons directly work and rotating valving cylinders surrounding the afore; sald cylinders. By means of my iIlVBIltlOIl the working cylinder of the engine is maintained in fixed alinernent. I also provide means for lubricating the valving cylinder operating gearing. I

The invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which 1 Figure 1 is a sectional view of one end of an engine structure constructed in accord ance with the invention,=the engine structure being shown in association with a tank for holding cooling fluid; Figs 2 to 6 inclusive are diagrammatic views collectively illus-- crating one-half of the'valving cycle and one complete engine cycle, the upper portion of Fig. 2 also constituting a sectional view on: line 2 2 of Fig. 1,. some of the structural characteristics illustrated at the upper end of Fig. 2 being omitted in Figs; to 6', in-

clusive.

Like parts are indicated by similar :charactors of reference, throughout the dilferent figures.

The engine, shown is a" vertical engine,

though obviously the invention is not tobe limited to such a type. The engine casing 1 which underlies the engine cylinder is of any suitable construction and supports, in any suitable manner, the engine shaft 2diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6,:

inclusive, this engine shaft carrying the Specification of Letters Patent. Pwlggnt gdl July 211 19141 Application filed January 27,1913, Serial no. 7%,308.

usual crank 3Wl1i0l1 is connected-with the lower end of a'connectingrod, the upperend of thi's connecting'rod being connected at '5 with a piston '6 in any "usual or preferred manner; The" piston *6 reciprocates withina stationary cylinder'having two 00- axial cylindrical walls 7, '8between which spacing 0 intervenes. The cylinder is'also' provided with two additional "cylindrical walls 10, 11 between which spacing 12 intervenes, the walls '10 and 11 being also concentric, with the walls -7 and 8 Spacing also intervenes between'thecylinder walls 8 and 10 in which a cylindrical sleeve 13 is received and in which spacing'the sleeve 13 is adapted to be turned by means of anysuitable gearing such, for example, as a spur gear 14 surrounding and rigid with respect to the lower end of the sleeve 18 and a spur pinion 15 in mesh with the gear 1 1. The spacings 9 and 12 are in communication at the upper end of the cylinder by means of one or more passages 16. A tank 17 which holds suitable cooling fluid such as Water has piping connections 18 with the spacings 9 and. 12 whereby the cooling fluid is automa'tically circulated.- The cylinder has one intake port 19 and one exhaust port 20 so spaced with regardto diametrically disposed openings 21 and 22 in the sleeve 13 that the functions of thecycl'e are correctly carried out in any predetermined relation that may be desired. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the pinion" 15 operates at engine speed, the speed of the engine crank shaft, and the'cylindrical sleeve 13. operates at OIIG-QFHLITBI of'the engine speed. The ports 21, 22 in the sleeve- 13 function alternately, that is,- theport 21 will function during one complete engine cycle in which cycle the port 22'will not function andjthe port 22 will function in the next 21 will not function; In Fig.2 the port 21 is on the point of being opened to admit explosive gas to the engine cylinder; In Fig.

.3 the intake by .Wayo'f the port 21 has just about been closed. In Fig. 4i the engine has reached its firing point. port 21 is just abou'tto establish the exhaust passage from the cylinder. In Fig. 6 the exhaust stroke has been partially completed,

one engine cycle being-then complete. In

In Fig. 5 the 22) which has completed its cycle of funcbelow the valvin the outer cylindrical wall 8 of the stationary 40,

tions remains idle'during the timeits companion (22 or'21) 1S COHlPlOlZUEQ' its cycle of functions so that the port which is inactive has opportunity in which to be cooled and when first brought into its functioning relation it is still further cooled by the incoming By means of the construction disclosed a wide pace intervenes between the intake and exl ust passages and 24 leading through the walls 10 and 11 of the cylinder thus permitting ample sealing space between these passages 23 and 24 whereby leakagebetween the passages 23 and 24: is readily prevented. While the ports 21 and 22 that thus function alternately are disposed in a rotating valve cylinder surrounding the working cylinder, I do not wish to 'be limited, in allembodiments of the invention to the presence of these ports in such a rotating cylinder.

Referring again more particularly to Fig.

1, it will be observed that the various walls 7-, 8, 1O andll are maintained in fixed 'coaxial relation by the end walls 25, 26 27 and 28 so that the space in which the cylindrlcal sleeve 13 turns is maintained fixed whereby said sleeve 13 may freely turn'withinits space and at the same time maintain the desired intimacy of its contact with the walls 8 and 10. The lower end wall 28 is located cylinder 13 and engages working cylinder so as to maintain the working cylinder in fixed alinenient whereby the valving cylinder is not subject to lateral stresses due to the operation of the engine. The wall 28 also acts as a step bearing forthe valving cylinder. The valving sleeve 13 thus does not take part in'guiding the piston in its travel this function being performed by the cylinder element 7 totally independently of the sleeve 13, wherebythe sleeve 13 is'relievedofthe lateral piston pressure dueto the angularity of the piston rod or other reasons. I

The contacting surfaces of the sleeve 13 and the cylinder walls 8 and 10 may be lu bricated in any preferred manner. I have shown a lubricant oil receiving space 29 in which the gears 14: and 15 operate, lubricant being adapted to work its way from this space upwardly to lubricate the sleeve 13. The oil receiving space 29 is constituted in part by the end wall 28 that-acts as a step bearing for the valving cylinder and as a positioner for the working or piston cylinder, oil within the space. 29 finding pas sage between" the upper surfaceof the wall Thqport (21 or 28 and the lower end of the valving cylinder 13 there to lubricate the valving cylinder. lubricant may be sup 'ilied to the space 29 in any suitable way as by means of the pipe 30. v i

It will be observed that the space within which the sleeve 13andits operatinggear ing 14 and 15 work is a lubricant receiving space practically 's'eparatedfrom thecrank pit, the piston being preferably lubricated by another agency. The valvin-g sleeve 13 being upon the outside of the cylinder is not subject to the initial cylinder heat and the transfer of heat from the cylinder is further opposed by the waterintervening' in the water jacketing space between the cylinder walls 7 and 8, though I do not limit myself to the presence of the water compartment between the cylinder 7 and the sleeve 13. The sleeve 13 is furthercoolcd by the water in the water jacketing space between the cylinder walls 10 and 11 to "which latter- ,water' jacketing space I doubt wishto be limited. vThewater jacketing spaces surrounding and surrounded by the sleeve 13 are shown as being substantially eo-exten. sive with the sleeve 13, to which characteris tie the invention is not to be limited. While the valving and working cylinders of the engine are shown as being co-axial they are not to be limited to this relationship.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited tothe precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, but Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire, to secure by Let-' ters Patent the'following:--

1. An internal combustion plural cycle engine including a working cylinder having v intake and exhaust passages; a valving --cyl inder surrounding the workingcylinder; an engine casing; an end wall carried by-the engine casing and interposed between the valving cylinder and crank portion. of the englne, thls end wall engaging the work ng cylinder to maintain it in fixed alinement; alubricant containing space partially formed by said end wall; and gearing for turning the valving cylinder, the working space of the gearing being in eommunlcation with the lubricant contalning space whereby said gearing 1s lubricated.

2. 'An internal combustion plural cycle engine including a working cylinder having intake and exhaust passages; a valving cylinder surrounding the working cylinder andflgearin adjacent the crank end of the v valv'ing cylinder for turning the valving cylinder, there being a lubricant containing space n communication with the gearing space to enable the lubrication of the gearing,

An internal combustion plural cycle engine includin a Working cylinder having In witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe 1L0 intake and ex aust passages; a valving cylmy name this twenty second day of J anuinder surrounding the workingfizylinderg an ary A. 1)., 1913.

engine 'casingand an end Wa Carrie the engine ce sing and interposed betweeii PERCY WARREN NOBLE the valving cylinder and crank portion of Witnesses:

the engine, this end wall engaging the work- ROY J. SOULER,

ing cylinder to' maintain it in fixed aline- AUSTEN M. WILSON.

' ment. 

